Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-09-15
OLD WAYS AND TIMES.


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1t was fast deepening twilight of a
summers eve, and amid the iostling
hurrying crowd in the busiest street OF
one of our great cities, young girl
was hurrying home.
On she went, until turning corner,
she entered quiet-looking street,
where lived what might be called the
respectable poor.
Pausing before plain modest little
cottage, she mounted the steps and
entered.
Stepping across the entry, she opened
second door which led into small
and poorly but neatly furnished room
A pale pleasant-faced woman looked
up from the book she held in her
hand.
"Well, Nellie, what luck to-day?"
''Oh, it's the same old cry; no one
wants my services. But we must keep
up good courage. feel as though
there must be better days in store
for us. And now 1 must get some tea. :"
''POor Nellie" sighed the mother;
''it is too bad after you have been out
all day and coming home tired, to 90
right to work. What a pity we had to
dismiss Maggie!"
ooh, never mind, mother. l am
we'll and strong; and somehow l feel
it in my bones something is going to
turn up, and we'll plunge suddenly
back into the old ways and times;" and
with light laugh she left the room to
prepare their evening meal.
Here we will leave them for awhile,
and take glimpse of their former
life. Mrs. Merle-Nellie's mother
was the only child of a wealthy bank
er. In early life she formed the ac-
quaintance of young. man in her
fathers employ. From the first the
Warmest ties of affection seemed to
spring up hetween them, which soon
ripened into the purest love.
But, alas! he was poor, and her faith
er would not listen TO such marriage.
In his mind the poor clerk was no
match for the rich bankers daughter,
and he was forbidden the house. At
last the young man went far away to
the "land of gold" to seek his fortune;
but before he left he met Elsie. and
they promised to be faithful.
"For," said Elsie, "if you were not
poor, papa would have no objections
to our marriage. So if you prosper
and come back to me all will be we'll,
for l will be waiting for YOU"
But time passed on and no tidings
reached her of the absent one. She
wrote but received no reply. Her
father told her he might be dead, acci-
dents of a fatal kind happen very often
in the mines.
"But," said Elsie, che promised to
write as soon as he reached his desti-
nation"
'Oh, we'll, he might have neglected
to do So" ...
But Elsie would not believe him dead
nor faithless.
Time passed, and she had many
suitors for her hand, but to all she
turned deaf ear, and finally gained
the name of being cold and unap-
proachable.
Itwas in the great financial crash
of l8-, when SO many men counted
their thousands one day and were PEN
niless the next, that her father called
her to his study one night.
In few moments she came, very
beautiful as she stood before him robed
in the richest Of silk. Yes. she was
beautiful, and 1t was not without a
pang he noticed the pale, almost ethe-
real beauty of her face.
With wave of the hand he mo.
toned her to be seated.
1t was some minutes before he spoke.
He then said:
II saw Harvey Merle to-day; you
know how earnestly he has sought for
your hand. He still presses his suit,
and wished me to have one more in
terview with you. Oh, my daughter,
you do not know what joy it would
give me to see you the wife of Harvey
Merle. And Iagain entreat you to
answer as he wishes. II you would,
it would make me the happi est man
alive. What say you, my childp"
Elsie arose from where she had been
sitting, silent and motionless. and
throwing her arms around her fathers
neck, sobbed: E
|Oh, papa! why will you torture me
with such proposals. You know
care hotHlHS lol uarFey MeTle. I1e is
good man ,and 1 respect him greatly;
bnt my huSband--the idea! Why, he
is old enough to be my father. l do
really believe, papa, he is nearly as
old as you are, and her blue eyes
flashed Indignantly. 80
The old man looked up appealingly:
"Oh, my child, if you only knew
what depended on your answer. God
knows would have spared you the
pain of hearing the rest of the story;
but | must tell the whole.
''DO you know, Elsie, that tonight !
am a penniless man, aud that the very
dress and jewels You have on are not
your ewnP Then listen,Sto me. To-
day ] had u private interview with
Harvey Merle. He is the only one
that knows this save myself. To-mor-
row the whole city will know it. But
he says if you will be his wife he will
save me. The same life of luxury you
have hitherto enjoyed you may enjoy
still. He is coming here Tonight for